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Pike County, along with nine other counties in the region, will vote July 31 on the Transportation Investment Act, or T-SPLOST, to fund state transportation projects in the area. Projects include road widening, maintenance, traffic operational upgrades, bridge improvements and new roads. Pike County, along with Upson, Spalding, Meriwether, Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard and Troup counties, will decide whether or not to approve the 10-year collection of a one-cent sales tax in the upcoming election.
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American Legion Post 197 will celebrate Memorial Day on the courthouse square Monday, May 28 at 12 noon in honor of fallen soldiers throughout U.S. history. According to Post 197 Commander Bill Payton, the ceremony will be less than an hour long and include a tribute to soldiers who were Missing In Action and Prisoners Of War.
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The seventh annual Pig Pickin’,Toe Tappin’, RC Cola and Moon Pie Event to benefit the historic Whiskey Bonding Barn in Molena will be held Saturday, May 26 from 5:30 p.m. to dark. Besides the traditional feast served up by Bert Willis, there will be traditional long-necked RC colas and Moon Pies for dessert. Everyone is asked to bring a chair to join the sunset gathering of Whiskey Bonding Barn supporters on the hill overlooking the Pine Mountain ridge. Music makers Les Bragg and the Wranglers will provide the music.
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Due to complications from a power failure at our Macon, Ga. printing plant, distribution of the 5.23.2012 print edition of The Journal-Reporter will be delayed today.

Distribution to retail outlets and news racks will be late. It is hoped subscriber copies will be available for mail in time for normal Wednesday delivery. The e-edition is online and is available at the link at the top right of this page. Print subscribers receive the e-edition free.

This delay is due to problems beyond our control. We apologize for any inconvenience and are working diligently to correct the problem.

Pike County commissioners discussed the 2012-13 fiscal year budget at a May 9 public meeting. The proposed budget is $8.5 million, not including a possible savings of $90,000 that may be accomplished by changing insurance carriers to be discussed at a May 16 special called meeting.
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Pike County commissioners named the firm of Morton and Morton as interim county manager at the May 9 board meeting. County clerk Teresa Watson said four applications have been received so far. County attorney Rob Morton said according to the county code, an interim county manager must be appointed within four weeks of the position’s vacancy.
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The Pike County board of education released the proposed 2012-13 budget at the May 8 meeting. The budget – which would total $22.7 million – is about 3.6% higher than last year’s. Administrators say despite the increase, the proposed budget will not require an increase in millage rate.
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Incumbent Dist. 127 state representative Billy Maddox, who represents all of Pike County and a portion of Lamar County, in the state legislature announced Friday he will not seek reelection.
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County commissioners were presented with the proposed fiscal year 2012-13 budget at the April 24 meeting. The proposed budget is $8.54 million, a $41,234 reduction from the first draft and around $200,000 less than last year’s budget.
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County commissioners revisited courthouse plans at the Tuesday, April 24, meeting after voting 3-2 to purchase new HVAC units and save $77,000 with a composite roof instead of metal roofing at the April 11 meeting. They voted to go with the original plan for a metal roof and discussed keeping the courtroom balcony.
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Two drivers were seriously injured in a head-on collision that occurred around 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 30 on Beeks Road. A life flight helicopter was called to transport one of the injured drivers to the hospital after the wreck, involving an SUV and charcoal-colored Honda took place.
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Sgt. Allen Goldston and deputy Chuck Hutto are somebody’s heroes. Saturday, April 14 at around 12:18 a.m., the Pike County sheriff’s office received a medical call on Highway 19 south about an unresponsive person.

Goldston and Hutto arrived to find a person lying on the floor not breathing and without a pulse. The deputies started administering CPR for five to seven minutes while awaiting medical units.
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A video clip of The MelFlames, featuring Mary Jane Williamson, who graduated from Pike County High School in 1997. She moved to Nashville to pursue her musical career and returned home to Georgia. She will sing with the MelFlames at BBQ & Blues in Barnesville this Saturday and is engaged to marry musician Ben Ratliff.
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With graduation within view for Pike County High School’s 229 seniors, administrators recently received good news about graduation rates from the Georgia Department of Education. Pike County schools rank 15th out of 183 school districts in Georgia with a graduation rate of 85.7, well over the state average of 67.4%.
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